The Final Christmas Countdown

Mid-December is hurtling towards us at an alarming rate, but it doesn’t have to be all last-minute panic shopping and crying over frozen turkeys. In the following pages, we’ve listed tons of awesome activities that you can take part in to really get you in the festive spirit. From caroling to charitable activities, seasonal drinks to Christmas shows, you’ll find it all here. On, readers!

December 13

Start Your Caroling

For those of us for whom Christmas carries spiritual or religious meaning on top of gift-giving and spending time with loved ones, the Hong Kong Bach Choir is performing “Two Great Masses” on December 13. The ensemble contrasts Stravinsky’s “Mass” against Bruckner’s “Mass No. 2 in E Minor”—both masses are Roman Catholic and harken back to Baroque and Renaissance traditions, but Stravinsky’s piece carries an austerity that offsets Bruckner’s expressive one. The program will open with “Serenade in D Minor” by Dvorak. The Hong Kong Bach choir has been operating for 40 years and has a repertoire extending from the 15th century up to the present day.

Concert Hall, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, 10 Salisbury Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, www.bachchoir.org.hk. $80-320 from www.urbtix.hk.

December 14

Get Down in DB

Get ready for an all-out day trip to D Deck in Discovery Bay, where the oceanfront dining hotspot will be temporarily transformed into a traditional European Christmas wonderland with spectacular festive decorations. The seven-foot-tall nutcrackers and vintage street lamps along the promenade provide the perfect atmosphere for couples and photography enthusiasts. Also get blown away by the romantic melodies performed by violinists roaming around the various restaurants at D Deck. On top of all this, Santa Claus will be dispatching Christmas postcards for you to send warm greetings via a traditional British-style mailbox. Spend some quality time with the family in the DB North Christmas Family Kingdom, where different kinds of interactive games and a bouncy castle are provided for the children. Also treat yourself to a nice supper—delicacies from all over the world will be available at D Deck, from fancy French to hearty Mexican dishes. Walk along the promenade and Tai Pak beach, where you can catch a glimpse of Disneyland’s fireworks. A free ferry ride back to Central will also be provided to passengers who present a receipt (of over $100) from any of the 12 designated restaurants at the D Deck free ferry service counter.

Now until Dec 27. D Deck, Discovery Bay Rd., Lantau Island, 3651-2345, [email protected], www.ddeck.com.hk.

Give to Needy Kids

Everyone knows that the true meaning of Christmas is to spend as much money as possible on junk you don’t need. But if your conscience is prickling, then why not donate some much-needed gifts to some less-than-fortunate children? The Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children (HKSPC) is constantly on the lookout for “gifts-in-kind,“ meaning practical items, toys and gifts for children from newborn to age 16. Their Children’s Residential Home looks after around 100 children who have been orphaned or abandoned, or whose parents are unable to care for them. Particularly in demand are gifts of milk powder, baby food, diapers, towels and other staples. The HKSPC also needs stationery, small toys, storybooks and games for its nursery schools and family service centers. Fill out the online form and submit it to the society before dropping your gifts off at the designated locations. You can even organize an office drive to help them get even more supplies.